Twice Blessed by Taryn Noelle Kloeden

Author:Taryn Noelle Kloeden [Kloeden, Taryn Noelle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781544144801
Publisher: Wild Winds Press
Published: 2019-06-24T16:00:00+00:00

Kado leaned against the ship wall. Captivity, at least, was familiar.

As usual, the brig was positioned where one could feel the worst of the ship’s pitch and yaw. But for Kado, who had spent most of his life at sea, this was no discomfort. If anything the ship’s swaying calmed him, like a mother rocking a child.

The bars, too, comforted him. Whatever Isaac had said, whatever Kado had thought when he'd first escaped Krymammer to help Katrine, this was where he belonged—locked up.

That’s what happened to killers.

Kado recalled the fear in the scarred redhead—Rayna’s—eyes. It had not taken his new captors long to recognize him for what he was. When he'd said his father’s name, it was clear they had known him.

It was clear they'd hated him.

A foolish tear slipped down Kado’s cheek. Who was this Nero Geddeont? After everything Kado had been through, a small part of him had hoped his true father was out there somewhere. He'd prayed Nero Geddeont was a better man than Enzo Aronak.

Because, if his real father had been a good man, maybe there was hope for Kado, too.

But that hope seemed foolish now. Whoever Nero Geddeont was, Kado sensed he was not a good man. It was no surprise—only a faithless man would have allowed Quella to be captured.

Just as her worthless son had allowed her to be killed.

A creaking brought Kado’s attention to the door.

A figure slipped into the darkness beyond the brig’s bars. A candle lit Katrine’s face, exaggerating the shadows beneath her fierce features.

“Kado.” She set the candle down and knelt outside the brig.

“What are you doing here?” He willed his voice to sharpen.

“I slipped out while the others were asleep. I’m sorry Pheros put you in here. When we get back to Fenear, I’ll explain everything to Silver. I’m sure—”

“No.” He wrapped his fingers around the bars, moving into the candlelight. “It’s for the best that I’m here. Your friends are right. I shouldn’t be trusted.”

“I trust you.”

His lips twitched. “You shouldn’t.”

“Why not? You saved my life—twice.”

“I don’t know why I did that.” It had been instinct—as natural as breathing. But that's all it had been.

Saving Katrine meant nothing.

He was still a monster, and she had to learn that.

“I do.” Katrine nodded with conviction. Leaning forward, her fingertips brushed his. “You’re Fenearen. Part of the pack, like me, like Rayna, Roxen, and Channon.”

Kado pulled back his hand. “Like Nero Geddeont?” If Katrine insisted on staying near him, he might as well find out more about his father.

She swallowed. “No. You’re not like him at all.”

“So you know him?”

Katrine looked away. The candle reflected in her brown eyes, turning them amber. “No, not really. I never spoke to him.”

“But you know him?” he repeated stubbornly.

“I suppose I knew him. I knew enough, anyway.” Any hint of cheer left Katrine's voice. Kado was making her uncomfortable. Good.

“Knew?” he asked.

“I-I shouldn’t be the one telling you this. It’d be better to wait for the Alphena or—”

“He’s dead.” It wasn’t a question.

“Yes.” A beat passed.

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